MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Earth Week approaches, members of the local environmental group Earth Matters are working to educate residents about recycling challenges and promote new efforts to reduce waste in Reno County.
While recycling remains a widely encouraged practice, Garth Strand noted that not all materials placed in recycling bins ultimately find a second life. Markets for recyclable materials can fluctuate, meaning some items collected for recycling may still end up in the landfill.
“Their markets change, and they don’t know exactly what they’re going to be able to sell at any given time,” Strand said, referring to local recycling operations. “So it is not for us to try and decide — their advice is throw it in the bin, and they’ll sort it out.”
Materials collected in curbside recycling are first processed at Stutzman's recycling facility before being sorted. Items that cannot be reused are ultimately diverted to the landfill.
Strand emphasized that residents should not be discouraged by that reality, noting that even imperfect recycling habits still help reduce overall waste and improve efficiency in the system.
In addition to curbside recycling, Reno County offers several options for specialized disposal. The landfill accepts items such as appliances, tires and mattresses, while several retailers in Hutchinson provide drop-off locations for lithium-ion batteries.
A key focus for Earth Matters is expanding access to electronic waste, or e-waste, recycling. Currently, there is no dedicated drop-off location in Hutchinson, but that is expected to change.
The group recently received a $7,500 grant from the Hutchinson Community Foundation to support new environmental initiatives, including the development of a local e-waste collection site in partnership with a local business. The program will allow residents to safely dispose of items such as televisions, computers and other electronics.
Earth Matters also plans to use grant funds to distribute reusable cotton bags in an effort to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
Group members highlighted growing concerns about plastic pollution, including research showing microplastics are increasingly present in the environment and even in the human body.
Beyond recycling, the organization encourages residents to adopt additional sustainability practices such as composting, reusing household items and donating usable goods instead of discarding them.
Earth Matters is a loosely organized nonprofit group made up of members from several local churches, though participation is open to anyone in the community. The group meets monthly and focuses on environmental stewardship and education.
As part of Earth Week activities, Earth Matters is partnering with the Dillon Nature Center to host a public presentation on April 14. Reno County landfill representatives will provide insight into how the landfill operates and the challenges it faces.
The group will also hold a tree-planting event later in the month at Shadduck Park in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, continuing its efforts to promote environmental awareness among local youth.
Organizers say their message is simple: small changes can make a meaningful difference.
“Recycling is so easy to do,” Strand said. “Learn what you can, do the best you can, and think about the future we’re creating for the next generation.”